Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 163

163. What You Should Really Fear

It was surprising even to Unhyun himself.

Unhyun was not afraid of the Martial Emperor.

He knew that someday the Martial Emperor would come for him and that his sword would show no mercy.

But strangely, he wasn’t scared.

“Then what are you afraid of?”

“What I fear is…”

Unhyun answered quietly.

“…that my sword will not reach what I have seen.”

It was an excessively vague answer.

But it couldn’t be helped.

How could he express that experience, that state of being, from that time?

For Unhyun, saying it that way was the best he could do.

And for the Sword Saint, it was enough.

“Is that so?”

The Sword Saint said suddenly.

He fiddled with his teacup and continued.

“I am also afraid. No, it’s not just me. Those who wield swords are destined to fear many things. So, so many things.”

The Sword Saint’s voice was filled with deep regret.

“But what you really need to fear is always just one thing.”

Clink.

The teacup made a sound.

The Sword Saint stared straight at Unhyun.

“You have already found it. So don’t be afraid. When the time comes, it will come to you.”

The words seemed contradictory at first glance.

But Unhyun thought he knew what the Sword Saint was trying to say.

“Thank you.”

Unhyun bowed to the Sword Saint with sincerity.

The Sword Saint quietly nodded in return.

“But where is your sword?”

“Ah, that’s…”

The newly bought wooden sword was in his lodgings.

But before Unhyun could answer, Shinseung interjected.

“It broke. It shattered into pieces, so he had to get a new one.”

“Broke?”

The Sword Saint frowned slightly and looked back at Shinseung.

“Yes. And the new one he got is also a wooden sword. It’s like he’s obsessed with wooden swords, always breaking them and buying new ones, breaking them and buying new ones… Tsk, tsk.”

Shinseung clicked his tongue and slurped down his tea.

The Sword Saint turned back to Unhyun.

“Is there a special reason?”

“W-Well, it’s not that I need a good sword or anything…”

Martial artists are fanatically obsessed with famous swords or weapons.

Considering the nature of the martial world, where lives can be at stake over the smallest differences, it’s only natural.

But for Unhyun, a famous sword doesn’t mean much.

The important thing is the sword of the heart.

Unhyun uses a wooden sword simply out of affection.

“Swords are important.”

The Sword Saint said in a calm but weighty voice.

“Very important. A martial artist’s weapon can sometimes be their only confidant and friend. If I didn’t have Hanwol…”

The Sword Saint reached out and gently stroked his sword, Hanwol.

“…I wouldn’t be here today.”

Hanwol is a sword that is synonymous with the Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak.

A sword that has faced countless powerful enemies, a sword that has literally shared life and death with him.

The Sword Saint’s gaze towards Hanwol was warm and gentle.

“Sometimes foolish people make the mistake of overestimating their weapons, but I don’t think you would do that.”

The Sword Saint said to Unhyun with a gentle look.

“So, try relying on one.”

“Do you need a good sword?”

Shinseung butted in.

“I happen to have a good one. It’s got a great pedigree and even a secret origin, a really killer sword.”

Since it was a sword, the metaphor of having a great pedigree wasn’t entirely wrong.

Unhyun gave a wry smile.

“Thank you, but that sword is too much for me…”

“Take it.”

The Sword Saint’s voice was heard.

He raised his teacup and said.

“I think that sword has a connection with you. Maybe it will open a breakthrough for you.”

If it had been Shinseung who said it, he would have just brushed it off.

But since the Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak, said it, he couldn’t dare to disregard it.

“Yeah. And you never know? If you go to Bukhae [Northern Sea region], that sword might be helpful.”

Shinseung interjected.

He was talking about Unhyun going to Bukhae as if it were a foregone conclusion.

“It’s a sword that’s quite cherished in Bukhae, so you might be able to get something else in exchange for giving it up. Or you could threaten to throw it into the deep sea.”

Shinseung casually said something that would horrify anyone from Bukhae.

“I don’t think that will happen.”

Still, Unhyun decided to accept Shinseung and the Sword Saint’s offer.

“Since you say so, I will follow your advice.”

The one who was pleased by that was Shinseung.

“Oh yeah, you should have done that from the start.”

Thud.

Shinseung took something out from behind him and placed it on the table.

A long, old wooden box.

Unhyun immediately recognized what it was.

Shinseung had already prepared the Nagil Sword.

“Here.”

Shinseung pushed the wooden box towards Unhyun.

Unhyun slowly reached out and opened the wooden box.

Click.

The wooden box opened, and a sword wrapped in old cloth was revealed.

He couldn’t tell just by looking at the outside, but Unhyun already knew.

A beautiful sword hiding its appearance inside.

It was the sword of Bukhae, Nagil (落日) [Sunset], the Sunset Sword.

Unhyun, who was looking at the Nagil Sword, suddenly looked at the Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak.

He was also looking down at the Nagil Sword.

With a gaze filled with deeper regret than ever before.

“This sword…”

The Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak, said as he looked down at the wooden box.

“…is something I exchanged for so many things.”

Unhyun felt a deep sense of responsibility at those meaningful words.

This sword had a truly special meaning to the Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak.

Was Unhyun really worthy of receiving this sword?

“Yeah. So don’t just hand it over for a few coins.”

Shinseung poured cold water on the serious atmosphere.

He looked at Unhyun and said with a stern expression.

“At least make them give you two or three young ladies from Bukhae as wives before you hand it over. Don’t sell it cheap. Got it?”

Unhyun gave a wry smile.

But he knew very well how important this sword was in Bukhae.

To give a young lady from Bukhae to a foreigner was something he couldn’t even begin to imagine.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Unhyun nodded and said.

Then, he soon realized that there was room for misunderstanding in his words.

“No, I don’t mean that I’m going to receive a young lady as a wife…”

“Ah, and…”

The Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak, said suddenly.

“I felt a little strange when I first received that sword.”

“A strange feeling?”

The Sword Saint nodded at Unhyun’s question.

“Yes. Although I couldn’t figure it out, maybe you can figure out the secret of that sword.”

“Hey, there’s no way, is there?”

As expected, Shinseung slipped in.

He looked at Lee Geom-hak and shook his head.

“You couldn’t figure it out, so this guy will? You know more about swords than he does, and you’ve been to Bukhae more than he has, so how could this guy figure it out? That’s nonsense… Tsk, tsk.”

Unhyun felt something welling up inside him at those words.

But he soon calmed himself down.

‘I mustn’t fall for his provocation.’

A tactic to provoke the opponent to move according to one’s will is called provocation.

Unhyun knew exactly what Shinseung was aiming for.

But even so, there are times when you shouldn’t back down.

“That’s something we can’t know.”

Unhyun said in a stiff voice.

Didn’t the Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak, clearly say it earlier?

That Unhyun might be able to find the secret of the Nagil Sword.

“Heh heh heh.”

Shinseung smiled.

“So you mean you can solve what Lee Geom-hak couldn’t solve? You’re better than Lee Geom-hak?”

“Of course, I can’t be better than him.”

Unhyun said firmly.

“But that doesn’t mean I can’t do it either.”

Didn’t the Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak, clearly say it earlier?

That Unhyun might be able to find the secret of the Nagil Sword.

“Heh heh heh.”

Shinseung laughed.

“Okay. Then let’s see how you solve the secret hidden in Nagil. If you figure out the secret of this sword, I’ll grant you whatever you want, no questions asked.”

“That sounds good.”

Unhyun also said with a smile.

“Since you say so, I’ll make a promise too. If I can’t solve the secret of Nagil, I’ll do whatever you want, Shinseung.”

“Good. Don’t you ever forget those words.”

“Yes. Please don’t forget it either, Shinseung.”

“If the argument is over…”

The Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak, said.

“I’m leaving now.”

Swish.

The Sword Saint really got up from his seat.

Unhyun was flustered, but Shinseung was used to it and wasn’t very surprised.

“You said you were going back to Cheonsan [Thousand Mountains]?”

The Sword Saint nodded at Shinseung’s words.

“You’re really going all the way out there. Bring back something delicious when you go. Or bring back a pretty lady.”

The Sword Saint let out a hollow laugh.

“Me, at this age?”

“Not you, me. When you get old, you miss the warmth of people.”

Shinseung grumbled, but the Sword Saint didn’t respond any further.

He looked at Unhyun and said.

“I won’t be able to see you for a while this time.”

Cheonsan is a very far place.

You don’t just go and come back right away.

So it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to see the Sword Saint for a while, or rather, for quite a long time.

Swish.

The Sword Saint’s large hand rested on Unhyun’s shoulder.

“I look forward to the day we meet again.”

The weight in that heavy voice was the spirit of a martial artist.

Before he knew it, Unhyun nodded his head.

He had ended up agreeing to the expectations of the Sword Saint, no less.

“Yes, I will wait.”

Unhyun looked straight at the Sword Saint and said.

“Hmph.”

The Sword Saint smiled.

And he turned and walked away.

Step, step.

The Sword Saint soon left Waryongheon and disappeared.

Unhyun couldn’t easily take his eyes off his back.

The favor he had shown Unhyun was enormous.

Who in the world could receive advice from the Sword Saint, and who could receive a sword from the Sword Saint?

And that too, the Nagil Sword of Bukhae, which contained a lot of meaning.

Therefore, Unhyun had no choice but to be deeply grateful to the Sword Saint, Lee Geom-hak.

“Heh heh, that big guy knows how to be shy too.”

Shinseung said that and sipped the cold tea.

“Isn’t it a good thing anyway? Bukhae won’t be a matter of a day or two, so take this opportunity to calmly grab the sword and think about it.”

‘Ah.’

Only then did Unhyun realize that he had to go to Bukhae.

In fact, Unhyun had never said he would go, but it was impossible to say he wouldn’t go now.

“Um, what am I supposed to do when I go to Bukhae?”

Unhyun finally asked the question he should have asked in the first place.

Shinseung Bulyeong chuckled as always.

“There’s nothing special to do. Just tell the people of Bukhae to eat well and live well in Bukhae, and that’s all.”

At first glance, it seemed like nothing, but Unhyun quickly realized the meaning of those words.

“You mean…”

Unhyun said with a frown.

“…that Bukhae is trying to come down here. And you’re telling me to stop them.”

“Heh. You’re quick to catch on.”

Unhyun let out a deep sigh.

“Do you think I can do that?”

“I don’t know.”

Shinseung shrugged his shoulders.

But his words were not over yet.

“But if you can’t do it, no one can. That’s for sure.”

Without the slightest hesitation, Shinseung asserted.

Unhyun could quickly understand the reason.

The person recognized by Bukhae is the owner of Nagil.

And now, the owner of Nagil, at least as Bukhae knows, is Unhyun himself.